[ Then it is something that's sensitive enough that they need to be in a private place. Steve finds it interesting that she doesn't suggest the Horizon. He'd rather not have to enter that other plane unless it's necessary to speak to someone in another faction, so this works just fine for him. ]
Yeah, that road is well-traveled enough that it isn't often attacked by bandits. [ Or, you know, desert monsters. ] Let's meet a little down the road, at the first signpost.
[Good to her word, Petra is already waiting there when he arrives— spotting his approach when the time comes, she raises a hand in greeting, even giving him a smile despite the potentially serious nature of her request.]
[ The weather isn't as horrible out here now that it's getting into winter, but Steve's still in short sleeves in hopes of staving off the heat. Plenty of sand has been kicked up along the well-trafficked road, though, and he's squinting against that and the bright sun as he approaches, waving to Petra.
It's good to see that smile. It means her reason for asking to see him can't be anything too awful. ]
Sure thing. It's nice to get out of the city from time to time.
[ He moves away from the road, headed toward a small sand dune nearby. ]
You are not seeing enough of the desert on various jobs?
[Her remark is half-teasing, her smile pulling to one side as she joins him in heading towards the dune. They don't need to go far off the road, but it's not a bad idea to distance themselves from it just a bit to ensure privacy.
One there, she fixes her gaze on him, her smile fading just a touch— though not so much as to be alarming.]
I was hearing something interesting about business in Thorne while we were on Sylvecres Island. I have already told Claude and the others, to see how it might be of use to us here in the Free Cities, but... I was remembering you are having friends in Thorne. I thought it might be useful to you.
[ Steve returns Petra's teasing smile with a crooked one of his own. It's true that the jobs he picks up bring him out here fairly often, but all the same, he'll take the chance to stretch his legs when the opportunity presents itself.
Once they reach the dune, he doesn't hesitate to sit down on the warm sand. It's not so heated up that it actually burns, not like it would at the height of summer.
News about Thorne, is it? Claude had already reached out to Steve with his own information, and Steve has to admit it's been a benefit, having Claude and his friends willing to tell him what they've picked up here and there. He doesn't intend to abuse or betray that trust, either.
He nods, his thoughts immediately turning to Natasha and to Strange. It's considerate of Petra to have remembered that at all. ] I can tell you what I overheard too, though maybe Claude already passed it on. What sort of business?
[She seats herself on the sand beside him, stretching her legs out before her as she rests her weight on her hands. It makes sense that Claude had already reached out to him, and while she does trust Claude to pass on anything of note to the rest of them, she's interested to hear what Steve has to say for herself.]
That is a fair exchange, I am thinking.
[That is how trust is built and maintained, after all.]
I was hearing that someone named Mace Hemmet was escorted to the castle and has been spending a great deal of time with the Queen. Have you— heard anything about the Thorne dungeons filling up?
[It's a rumor she's heard in passing, though she doesn't know what to make of it.]
[ Mace Hemmet? The name doesn't mean much to Steve, but then again, neither had Grigory Jannus — until he became the reason for the Queen to bomb Libertas. At least, that's how he's heard it, given that she'd only flown into a rage following news of her subordinate's death. Clearly there had been more to the relationship.
Was this Mace Hemmet meant to be a replacement? ]
I know they've been filled before, by Summoned. And I've heard things here and there about people ending up in the dungeons now, if they express any kind of dissent about the Queen.
[ It's so different from the Free Cities, where the Prime Minister has stayed pretty hands-off with them. Steve doesn't envy any of the people in Thorne, but he knows Natasha will be able to handle herself there. It doesn't mean he has to like it, though. He pulls a face, his gaze shifting to one side for a moment. ]
... She was so upset about Grigory that she bombed a city, but then she replaced him just like that?
[ Does it mean something isn't adding up, or is the Queen just that awful? ]
[Her expression darkens considerably as Steve shares what he's heard of the dungeons in the past. She feels a point of tension beginning to build between her shoulderblades; what sort of Queen is this woman meant to be, anyway?
She grits her teeth, shaking her head.]
A Queen who reacts so rashly has no right to be calling herself such.
[Spoken as a queen-to-be herself.]
She has been sending this man into the dungeons frequently, as well, though I am not knowing what he does there. Given her past behavior, I think we can be assuming it is nothing good.
[She doubts the people held there are being treated with any sort of civility, let alone kindness.]
[ With the way that Petra says those words, with such steely certainty, Steve almost wonders if there's something more to it. Granted, it doesn't have to be personal for her to hate the Queen's actions, but maybe she's seen poor rulership in the past?
Steve ponders on that for a moment before what Petra says next sinks in. This Mace Hemmet person has been making frequent visits to the dungeons. No, it can't be good. ]
I think it's safe to assume it's for interrogations, but to what level those go is the question. [ There's no real point in talking around it, as far as he's concerned, and so he takes a moment to rub at his eyes before coming out with what he means. ]
It's one thing for her to carelessly attack the so-called enemy, but is she really torturing her own people?
[ He pauses then, before sending Petra a more resolved look. ]
I have a friend there who could look into it. I'll let her know all of this, if that's okay with you.
[She nods grimly in agreement— those had been her thoughts as well, even if she hadn't wanted to voice them immediately.]
I was thinking the very same thing. It seems a terrible thing to be assuming, but given what we know... I do not believe it is outside of the realm of possibility.
[She is, at least in this moment, grateful to have been summoned into the Free Cities. At his request, she gives another nod, not quite so tight as the first.]
If you are trusting her, then it is fine with me. Someone who is there to see it for themselves should know, so they are knowing what to look for.
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Yeah, that road is well-traveled enough that it isn't often attacked by bandits. [ Or, you know, desert monsters. ] Let's meet a little down the road, at the first signpost.
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[Good to her word, Petra is already waiting there when he arrives— spotting his approach when the time comes, she raises a hand in greeting, even giving him a smile despite the potentially serious nature of her request.]
Thank you for meeting with me.
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It's good to see that smile. It means her reason for asking to see him can't be anything too awful. ]
Sure thing. It's nice to get out of the city from time to time.
[ He moves away from the road, headed toward a small sand dune nearby. ]
How can I help?
no subject
[Her remark is half-teasing, her smile pulling to one side as she joins him in heading towards the dune. They don't need to go far off the road, but it's not a bad idea to distance themselves from it just a bit to ensure privacy.
One there, she fixes her gaze on him, her smile fading just a touch— though not so much as to be alarming.]
I was hearing something interesting about business in Thorne while we were on Sylvecres Island. I have already told Claude and the others, to see how it might be of use to us here in the Free Cities, but... I was remembering you are having friends in Thorne. I thought it might be useful to you.
no subject
Once they reach the dune, he doesn't hesitate to sit down on the warm sand. It's not so heated up that it actually burns, not like it would at the height of summer.
News about Thorne, is it? Claude had already reached out to Steve with his own information, and Steve has to admit it's been a benefit, having Claude and his friends willing to tell him what they've picked up here and there. He doesn't intend to abuse or betray that trust, either.
He nods, his thoughts immediately turning to Natasha and to Strange. It's considerate of Petra to have remembered that at all. ] I can tell you what I overheard too, though maybe Claude already passed it on. What sort of business?
no subject
That is a fair exchange, I am thinking.
[That is how trust is built and maintained, after all.]
I was hearing that someone named Mace Hemmet was escorted to the castle and has been spending a great deal of time with the Queen. Have you— heard anything about the Thorne dungeons filling up?
[It's a rumor she's heard in passing, though she doesn't know what to make of it.]
no subject
Was this Mace Hemmet meant to be a replacement? ]
I know they've been filled before, by Summoned. And I've heard things here and there about people ending up in the dungeons now, if they express any kind of dissent about the Queen.
[ It's so different from the Free Cities, where the Prime Minister has stayed pretty hands-off with them. Steve doesn't envy any of the people in Thorne, but he knows Natasha will be able to handle herself there. It doesn't mean he has to like it, though. He pulls a face, his gaze shifting to one side for a moment. ]
... She was so upset about Grigory that she bombed a city, but then she replaced him just like that?
[ Does it mean something isn't adding up, or is the Queen just that awful? ]
no subject
She grits her teeth, shaking her head.]
A Queen who reacts so rashly has no right to be calling herself such.
[Spoken as a queen-to-be herself.]
She has been sending this man into the dungeons frequently, as well, though I am not knowing what he does there. Given her past behavior, I think we can be assuming it is nothing good.
[She doubts the people held there are being treated with any sort of civility, let alone kindness.]
no subject
Steve ponders on that for a moment before what Petra says next sinks in. This Mace Hemmet person has been making frequent visits to the dungeons. No, it can't be good. ]
I think it's safe to assume it's for interrogations, but to what level those go is the question. [ There's no real point in talking around it, as far as he's concerned, and so he takes a moment to rub at his eyes before coming out with what he means. ]
It's one thing for her to carelessly attack the so-called enemy, but is she really torturing her own people?
[ He pauses then, before sending Petra a more resolved look. ]
I have a friend there who could look into it. I'll let her know all of this, if that's okay with you.
[ Assuming Natasha doesn't already know... ]
no subject
I was thinking the very same thing. It seems a terrible thing to be assuming, but given what we know... I do not believe it is outside of the realm of possibility.
[She is, at least in this moment, grateful to have been summoned into the Free Cities. At his request, she gives another nod, not quite so tight as the first.]
If you are trusting her, then it is fine with me. Someone who is there to see it for themselves should know, so they are knowing what to look for.